Mule bank



.May s, 1923. f A 1,454,539

N. S. 'EBERHARDT ET AL `MULE: BANK Filled may 2, 1922 Patented May 8, 1923.

NICHOLAS S. EBERHARDT AND ARTHUR E. HACKETT, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

Munn BANK.-

Applicaton led May 2, 1922. Serial No. 557,895.

T 0 all 'whom t lmay concern:

Be it known that we, NICHOLAS S. Enan- HAiin'r and ARTHUR E. Heorinrr, both citiyens of the United States, and residents of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of `Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mule Banks: and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

The invention relates to a toy bank.

It comprises the figures of a donkey and a man and a digitally operable mechanism for causing the donkey to kick, upsetting the man. who carries a tray, and deposits a coin therefrom into a receptacle having the appearance of a shed, or something of the kind.

The receptacle communicates internally with the base of the device and a removable door is provided in the bottom.

A primary object 0f the invention is `the provision of a toy bank which is entertaining to children. By a convenient movement ot parts by the finger, a series of amusing movements are initiated, terminating with the dropping ot a coin into the slot. Before the movement ot parts the manner ot deposition or" the coin into the slot is not apparent and the operation is such as to encourage an individual to deposit a coin on to the tray for the purpose of having it carried into the container. In this way an incentive is offered to placing a coin in the bank.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a door in the bottom of theI base adapted to cooperate with a partition for making a compartment for receiving the coins and, also, adapted to cooperate with the partition to be retained securely in position.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, our invention resides in the novel construction. combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claim. it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawing, we have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode we have so tar devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the invention, parts of the iigures being shown in section, the section being taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 2, and

Figure 2-is a cross section of the same taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Figure 1. 1

The base comprises a top wall l and a bottom wall 11. A partition 12 extends transversely between side walls 113 and the bottom is provided with an opening receiving door 14 having a flange 15 thereon at on@ end adapted to extend inwardly and contact with the bottom wall. Botatably secured in door 14 is a lock 16 having a iiat arm 17 rigid therewith and a head 18. The head may be movedV by a key, or any convenient instrument may be used7 for moving arm 17 in and out of engagement with the top surface of bottom wall11.

VWhen the arm is in engagement with the bottom wall, the door 14: is secured immovably in position as it is incapable of moving inwardly by reason of the partition 12 which divides up the base into two compartments, one of these compartments communicating with a container 19, in which the coin is initially deposited and the other receiving the mechanism `for actuating the movements of oneJ of the figures.

Container 19 may have a roof 2() giving it the appearance of a shed, or some similar construction. It is provided with a slot 21 adapted to receive a coin and a closure 22 pivotally secured and limited in its-downward movement by a stop 23. When the bank is turned over the closure is move-d to the position shown in dotted lines and prevents the release of coins.

The mule comprises a body 24 pivotally secured at 25 to fore legs 26, between which and concealed from the eye extends a rod 27 pivotally connected to a pin 28 by an eye 29. The rod extends downwardly through top wall 10 and is pivotally connected to a lever 30 mounted to rotate on a lug 31 and pivotally secured to a plunger 32 extending upwardly through top wall 10 and having a button 33 at its top. The downward movement of the button is opposed by a spring 34 secured to bottom wall 11, Fore legs 2G are secured to top wall 10 in any desired manner. rihe legs 35 of the man are,also, secured in any desired manner to top wall llU ` pivot '37.

l0, and the body 36 is cut away to receive the top ot the legs which are connected to the body by pivot 87.

The normal position of the man is as shown in full lines and the lowermost position of the body is as shown in dotted lines. Shoulder 38, adjacent the opening' in the body contacts with the legs to limit the torward movement of the body. The center of gravity of the man is disposed forwardly of The man is normally retained erect by the action of the tail 39 of the donkey pressing against the coat-tail 4:0 of the man. The arms All and tray 42, adapted to carry a coin 43. are rigid with body 36.

lVhen the Coin is placed in the tray, button 33 is depressed` moving downwardly against the action of spring' f3-l and lifting' rod 27 upwardly. rfhis throws the mule upwardly to a position shown in dotted lines in Figure l, liftingtail 39 ont of Contact with coat-tail 4.0 and permitting; the man to fall forwardly. This brings the coin close to the slot 2l and it is dropped therein, talling` into thev compartment. On the release of pressure, the weightof the donkey and the tension ot spring 34 tend to restore the donkey to ther position shown in full lines` the tail 39 being brought into Contact with coattail 40 and restoring the man to initial position. In the upward movement of the donkey7 the man falls forwardly, as described, and the rear legs 44 Contact with coat- The combination of a base, a container carried thereby having a slot therein, a pair ot legs secured to said base, a body member pivoted to said legs, said body member being' cut away to receive said legs and provided with a shoulder to limit the forward movementor said body member with respect to sait legs7 means rigid with said body member for carrying a coin7 a. second pair of legs donkey body pivoted thereto, the-tail et said donkey being' adapted to contact normally with a portion of said irst mentioned body for maintaining said body in erect position, and means for altering the position of said donkey and permitting the forward movement of said first mentioned body and the deposition of a coin in said slot.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands at Milwaulree. in the county of Milwaukee and State of Visconsin.

NICHOLAS S. EBERHARDT. ARTHUR E. HACKETT. 

